[kibwen]

> The T's FRR is the highest in the country: all of 30% or so.

According to the Federal Transit Administration, the Boston subway has a FRR of 74%. This is not the entire MBTA, which would also include things like the bus service (it should not be a surprise to anyone that trains are more efficient than buses).

I'm not disagreeing with you on the premise that the state has mismanaged the T and that it should be turned over to a municipal agency, only that the situation is not quite as dire as it seems. Most other cities in the US would be over the moon if they had Boston-level transit (which, again, is saying something about how poorly the US has managed its transit infrastructure).

[FFP999]

That one's on me for not reading more carefully. But my basic point is, public transit is a lousy way to make money, and if that's something you emphasize, it's neither going to make money nor give good service.

I'm reminded of some Terry Pratchett book about the Ankh-Morpork opera, in which the new owner of the opera house asks how they make money, and the manager says they don't--you make money other ways so that you can have things like the opera.